[mbaran]

I've got a 2011 S5 and have taken it through auto carwashes as long as I've owned it. Top doesn't look any better or worse than the ones here. No leaks though!

 

[speary]

I wouldn't recommend the spinney brush type car wash for any car
Find a hand wash that you can trust and use them

 

[rackingman]

Me neither and not just the roof. Most of the cars you see with a spirograph brillo pad finish to their paint have suffered at the brushes of an auto wash. Courtesy of water rates and greens they use 18% of the water they used 20 years ago ( uk) and 40% of that is recycled. The chemicals are supposed to compensate but they are expensive so many operators don't use enough.
So you wash your car with the previous vehicles shit.

However the roof is designed for 155+ mph in the rain so I wouldn't worry about the pressure washer as long as you don't get the nozzle too close

 

[johana0708]

Does the A4 roof fold in the ssame way etuicoquesamsung.com www.etuicoquesamsung.com

 

[ianrichardson]

My late 2010 A5 Cabriolet 3.0TDi Quattro that I purchased in May this year and has now clocked up 133,000 miles is a perfect example of a fabric roof that is wearing as it should!
I think because of the lining inside the outer fabric creases probably more than some cars.
Having said that the material is robust and though it shows signs of wear and tear is nowhere near worn out!
The hydraulic pump and rams would appear robust and remarkably quiet in operation.
So if considering buying a cabriolet, take it on a test drive and find a nice quiet lay-by and raise and lower the roof a few times, listening for any whines and graunching, as it should be smooth and quiet.
Stop it half way and check that it carries on opening or closing smoothly from a standstill.
It is quite a heavy structure but the hydraulics should cope easily.

There are plenty of products on the market for smartening up ageing fabric roofs. A bit of TLC using a cleanser and proofer will help the fabric maintain the suppleness it started life with as well keeping it nice and water resistant.
Power washing is a no no! A bit of elbow grease and a softish scrubbing brush will be all you need, keep the power washing for the wheel arches!
If after a couple of years use and you are unlucky and it does fray, then there are plenty of specialist places that can replace the fabric and sort out mechanical issues at way below Audi prices.
Bearing in mind they are working on convertibles every day their working lives their expertise is far greater than an Audi trained mechanic who could well have been shown how to do it, but would have forgotten how as he probably has never had to replace one!!

Best

Ian

 

[Barkham12]

My late 2010 A5 Cabriolet 3.0TDi Quattro that I purchased in May this year and has now clocked up 133,000 miles is a perfect example of a fabric roof that is wearing as it should!
I think because of the lining inside the outer fabric creases probably more than some cars.
Having said that the material is robust and though it shows signs of wear and tear is nowhere near worn out!
The hydraulic pump and rams would appear robust and remarkably quiet in operation.
So if considering buying a cabriolet, take it on a test drive and find a nice quiet lay-by and raise and lower the roof a few times, listening for any whines and graunching, as it should be smooth and quiet.
Stop it half way and check that it carries on opening or closing smoothly from a standstill.
It is quite a heavy structure but the hydraulics should cope easily.

There are plenty of products on the market for smartening up ageing fabric roofs. A bit of TLC using a cleanser and proofer will help the fabric maintain the suppleness it started life with as well keeping it nice and water resistant.
Power washing is a no no! A bit of elbow grease and a softish scrubbing brush will be all you need, keep the power washing for the wheel arches!
If after a couple of years use and you are unlucky and it does fray, then there are plenty of specialist places that can replace the fabric and sort out mechanical issues at way below Audi prices.
Bearing in mind they are working on convertibles every day their working lives their expertise is far greater than an Audi trained mechanic who could well have been shown how to do it, but would have forgotten how as he probably has never had to replace one!!

Best

Ian

Can you recommend any roof repairers that you mention in your forum please
I have an A5 cab which is fluffing up as described by lots of others in this forum so am getting concerned it could only get worse
Thanks

 

[GEORGESURREY]

Mine is the same 11 plate has some wear just where OP mentions.

Seems to be where the roof is folding a being held nothing to worry about.

Have had soft tops before and always tend to get a little worn where they fold, the modern A5 roof is such thick material it is unlikely to leak or wear, will just be the top layer.